| Club: | Dumbarton |
| Season: | 1997–1998 |
| Manager: | Ian Wallace |
| Stadium: | Boghead Park, Dumbarton |
| League: | Scottish League Division 3 |
| League Result: | 10th |
| Cup1 Result: | Third Round |
| Cup2 Result: | Second Round |
| Cup3 Result: | First Round |
| Matches: | 42 |
| Total Goals: | 48 |
| League Topscorer: | Colin McKinnon (10) |
| Season Topscorer: | Colin McKinnon (11) |
| Highest Attendance: | 465 |
| Lowest Attendance: | 310 |
| Average Attendance: | 391 |
| Prevseason: | 1996–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1998–99 |
Season 1997–98 was the 114th football season in which Dumbarton competed at a Scottish national level, entering the Scottish Football League for the 92nd time, the Scottish Cup for the 103rd time, the Scottish League Cup for the 51st time, and the Scottish Challenge Cup for the eighth time.
In Ian Wallace's first full season at the helm, Dumbarton's poor financial status meant that the team was almost unchanged from the one that had dropped from the Second Division the previous season. Nevertheless, initial results were promising, but this was soon to be replaced with that well known sinking feeling as the season went on. From January, Dumbarton registered just 3 league wins, and from the end of February till the end of the season propped up the rest of the league - easily Dumbarton's worst league performance in its history.
In the national cup competitions, however, the five-year wait for some progress was brought to an end. In the Scottish Cup, an uninspiring win over Highland League outfit Lossiemouth presented Dumbarton with a tie against Premier Division Motherwell in the third round. After holding their opponents to a home draw, they battled fiercely in the replay only to lose by a single goal.
In the League Cup, old rivals Queen's Park were dispatched in the first round, before Dumbarton found Premier Division Aberdeen too hot to handle.
Finally, however, in the Challenge Cup, it was the same old story - eight seasons and eight first round defeats - Falkirk would be the victors this time.
Locally, in the Stirlingshire Cup, the format reverted to group ties, but with only one win from three ties, Dumbarton failed to reach the final.
See main article: 1997–98 Scottish Third Division.
See main article: 1997-98 Scottish League Cup.
See main article: 1997–98 Scottish Challenge Cup.
See main article: 1997-98 Scottish Cup.
| Player | From | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adrian Mellis | Vale of Leven | 11 Jun 1997 | |
| Craig Brittain | Ashfield | 14 Jun 1997 | |
| Alex Grace | Vale of Leven | 25 Jul 1997 | |
 Robert Prytz | Kilmarnock | 30 Aug 1997 | |
| Marc Falconer | Queen's Park | 1 Sep 1997 | |
| Tom Currie | Clydebank | 18 Oct 1997 | |
| Chris Ewing | Stranraer | 18 Oct 1997 | |
 Hrienn Hringsson | East Stirling | 1 Nov 1997 | |
| Ross McCuaig | Leven Valley | 21 Nov 1997 | |
| Paddy Flannery | Morton | 27 Dec 1997 | |
| Stephen Jack | Cowdenbeath | 25 Feb 1998 | |
| Billy Melvin | Clydebank | 27 Mar 1998 | |
 Tommi Orismaa | TPS | 30 Mar 1998 | |
| Chris Dalrymple | Yoker Athletic (trialist) |
| Player | To | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon Parks | East Stirling | 4 Jun 1997 | |
| Toby King | Clyde | 10 Jun 1997 | |
| Robert Prytz | Cowdenbeath | 20 Dec 1997 | |
| Hugh Ward | Clydebank | 27 Mar 1998 | |
| Martin McGarvey | Arthurlie | ||
| Stephen Dallas | Baillieston | ||
| Sam McGivern | Dalry Thistle | ||
| Graeme McKenzie | Kilbirnie Ladeside | ||
| Alan Granger | Petershill | ||
| Peter Dennison | Vale of Leven | ||
| Joe Goldie | Vale of Leven | ||
| Jim McGall | Vale of Leven | ||
| Adrian Mellis | Vale of Leven |